📖 Book of my Month ~ The Players by Minette Walters

 

Allen & Unwin
2 January 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

A gripping tale of compassion, imposture, trickery and surprising alliances set against the backdrop of The Bloody Assizes, from the bestselling author of The Last Hours and The Swift and the Harrier.

The much-anticipated sequel to The Swift and The Harrier

England, 1685. Decades after the end of the civil war, the country is once again divided when Charles II's illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth, arrives in Dorset to incite rebellion against his Catholic uncle.

Armed only with pitchforks, Monmouth's army is quickly defeated by King James II's superior forces and charged with high treason. Those found guilty will be hanged, drawn and quartered.

As Dorset braces for carnage, the redoubtable Lady Jayne Harrier and a small group of trusted allies - including her courageous son and the independent-minded daughter of a local lawyer - contrive ways to save men from the gallows.

Compelling and powerful, The Players is a story of guile, deceit and compassion during the dark days of The Bloody Assizes. Secrets are kept and surprising friendships formed in a dangerous gamble to thwart a brutal king's thirst for vengeance...

📖 My thoughts..

Having been impressed with The Swift and the Harrier when it was published in 2021, I was excited to discover that the much anticipated sequel was to be published in 2025. 

As the novel begins in 1685 we have now moved considerably on from the English Civil War and whilst King Charles II's reign brought a period of stability to the country, his brother, and successor, King James II is a very different monarch. When the Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate eldest son of Charles II incites insurrection examples must be made of those supporters who took part in the ill-fated rebellion and it is there where we meet again with Lady Jayne Harrier who lives in Dorset with her son Elias, Duke of Glanville. We learn something of what has gone on in the previous years with Jane but largely the book focuses on the events following the Monmouth rebellion and the Bloody Assizes which took place in the aftermath when James II was hellbent on revenge.

The story brings a true sense of the injustice which was meted out to Monmouth supporters whether they be guilty, or innocent, and whilst Lady Jayne and her son do what they can to ameliorate the damage, history still carries the scars laid down by Judge Jeffreys and his harsh punishments. The characterisation is, as always, excellent with a whole host of fully rounded fictional figures who sit very comfortably alongside those from history. The timeline is recreated with a fine eye for even the smallest detail and the way in which time comes to life is testament to the author's skill at bringing history alive. 

I've have enjoyed reading The Players so much that I am delighted to make it the Book of My Month for January.

About the Author

Minette Walters is one of the world's best-selling crime writers. She is the author of twelve novels, winning the CWA John Creasey Award for The Ice House, the Edgar Allan Poe Award in America for The Sculptress and two CWA Gold Daggers for The Scold's Bridle and Fox Evil. The Last Hours and The Turn of Midnight mark an exciting new direction for Minette. She lives in Dorset with her husband.

Website

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#ThePlayers

X @AllenAndUnwinUK 

📖 Publication Day Review ~ The Next Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine

 

Quercus 
18 June 2024

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Amber Patterson Parrish has come a long way from being an invisible wallflower. Her hard work and immaculate planning have paid off now that she’s a prominent socialite, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been bumps along the way. Less than a year since her husband Jackson’s tax-evasion scandal, Amber is still at the top of the Bishops Harbor community pecking order, free to do as she wishes while Jackson sits in prison. But that freedom is quickly coming to an end. With Jackson getting released from prison, Amber’s time—and money—is vanishing.

Meanwhile, Daphne Parrish left Bishops Harbor after her divorce from Jackson Parrish, swearing she would never go back. But when one of her daughters runs away from home, desperate to see her father, Daphne agrees to return for the summer to allow him supervised visits. Once out of prison, Jackson swears he’s a changed man, but Daphne knows all too well that he can’t be trusted.

When a ghost from Amber’s past emerges looking for revenge, the three of them find unlikely allies in one another, but who is playing who? When all is said and done, they’ll have to fight tooth and nail for everything they have left in this zero-sum game.

With shocking turns and entertaining characters, The Next Mrs. Parrish will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about duplicity and betrayal.

📖My Review..

Back in 2018 I thought that I that had read all there was to know about Amber, Daphne and Jackson Parrish but it seems that these clever authors have decided it’s time we return to Bishops Harbor to meet up with them again in a sequel to The Last Mrs Parrish.

At the start of the book we catch up with Amber Patterson Parrish who is living her best life even though her husband Jackson is in prison for tax evasion. The ex- Mrs Parrish, Daphne is in California and has sworn never to return to Bishop’s Harbor however, with Jackson’s release from prison imminent Daphne finds that her life is, once again, about to change. 

This is a real roller coaster of a ride and whilst it’s not possible to like Amber you can’t help but admire her tenacity and sheer force of will. All credit must go to these clever writers who have created monsters in both Amber and Jackson Parrish and yet make them so very readable that you can’t help but be drawn into their devilish machinations. Caught in the middle, of course, are Daphne and Jackson’s daughters, who really deserve to find happiness away from Bishops Harbor.

There’s so much going on in the story that it’s impossible to recount any of it without giving too much away as it deserves to be enjoyed without spoilers so that the twists, of which there are many, take you by surprise and make your jaw drop at the sheer audacity of what Amber Parrish gets up to and the consequences of her actions. There are new characters to enjoy, particularly Daisy Ann, who really adds a whole new dimension to this fascinating story of revenge, deceit and retribution.

Clever, sophisticated and utterly absorbing, I raced through the book at top speed, sorry when the ending came but with the satisfaction of having read a sequel, expertly told.

About the Authors

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are national and international bestselling authors with over one and a half million copies sold worldwide. Their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film. Their books have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection. 

X @livconstantine2 #TheNextMrsParrish

Website

@QuercusBooks

📖 Book Review ~ Lawn Darts and Lemonade by Steven Manchester

 

Luna Bella Press
March 2022
My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

It’s the summer of 1984, a season of dodging lawn darts and chugging lemonade—or at least the discolored tap water Ma tried to disguise as lemonade.

Growing up is never easy, no matter what era you do it in. For generations, teenagers have suffered peer pressure, bullying, fear of rejection, and a sadistic obstacle course of one unexpected challenge after the next. Three brothers, Wally, Herbie, and Cockroach, learn that the past can be filled with questions—even shame and regret—while the future might be shrouded in worry and fear. But staying in the moment, now that’s where the sweet spot is...

📖 My Review...

Lawn Darts and Lemonade is a nostalgic look back at the summer of 1984 with brothers, Wally, Herbie and Alphonse, aka Cockroach, as they spend their time doing what all boys do best, namely, getting up to mischief, and worrying their parents.  

Whilst this is a sequel to Bread Bags And Bullies: Surviving The '80s you don't have to have read this in order to understand the premise of the story as the author does a great job of bringing time, place and people alive. I think most of us of a 'certain age' can remember what it was like to grow up and experience all the emotional pangs of first jobs, first dates, young love, sibling rivalry and family traumas. Lawn Darts and Lemonade brings this emotion into sharp focus with all the trademarks of this author's unique ability to get into the minutiae of family life with all the poignancy, love and laughter  that brings. Whilst many of the 80's references made me smile and nod my head in agreement, being in the UK, there were some references I had never heard of and I had great fun looking up the meaning of quahogs and Country Time Lemonade.

Regardless of which era you spent your growing up years, for me it was the 1970's, I do think that this story will resonate. It's a lovely heartwarming account of family life with all its ups, downs, happiness and sadness, and shows how precious it was to spend time with those we loved, especially when they are longer with us, except in our hearts.

📖 Best Read with... cups of ma's 'delicious' lemonade 😊

About the Author

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin’ Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoe boxes; the multi award-winning novel, Goodnight Brian; and the beloved holiday podcast drama, The Thursday Night Club. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show and BET’s Nightly News.

Twitter @authorSteveM

Website

Amazon  Amazon UK

📖 Publication Day Review ~ All My Lies are True by Dorothy Koomson

 

📖 Happy Paperback Publication Day 📖

 

Headline
21 January 2021

My thanks to the publishers and to EDPR for my copy of this book

Verity is telling lies... and that’s why she’s about to be arrested for attempted murder.

Serena has been lying for years... and that may have driven her daughter Verity, to do something unthinkable. 

Poppy’s lies have come back to haunt her... so will her quest for the truth hurt everyone she loves?

30 years ago, teenagers Poppy Carlisle and Serena Gorringe were put on trial for the murder of their teacher. Poppy was convicted. Serena walked free. 10 years after Poppy’s release from prison, and now with families of their own, both women have spent a lifetime trying to forget. But time is no healer. The story is not theirs alone; their families have lived it too. Will the truth of what happened that night ever come to light, or will the abuses of the past destroy everyone they love? A story about family, obsession and psychological abuse, it seems that everyone lies... but whose lies are going to end in tragedy?

📖 My thoughts..

Anyone who has read The Ice Cream Girls will wonder what happened to Poppy and Serena in the years following their dramatic arrest and court appearance. Thankfully the author felt that it was now time to write a sequel, even though initially she said she wouldn't, and I'm really pleased that we have in All My Lies are True a worthy continuation of this compelling story.

All my Lies are True picks up the story several years after the first story finished. Poppy is out of prison and Serena has been living her life seemingly unscathed in the intervening years. However, scars run deep, and although neither women have much contact with the other they remain ever present in each other's thoughts. The passage of time doesn't dim the connection but there is now a new generation for whom the troubles of the past are about to threaten the future. When the events of the present, and I'm not going to say what they are as that would spoil everything, start to spiral out of control then the whole sad and sorry cycle is about to start all over again.

The story is beautifully told, with a scarily realistic edge, and with central characters who get right inside your head and who you invest in from the first page. Some I liked more than others and there's one in particular I was wary of from the start but that's what makes the story so compelling, characters who you believe one minute, and then start to doubt at other times. The story is told from different timelines and several points of view, that of Verity, Serena's grown up daughter, Serena herself, and also Poppy, each of them have a story to tell and each is as compelling as the others.

All My Lies are True has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and because nothing is ever as it seems, I think, that's what makes this book such a riveting and engrossing read. My opinion is that you don't need to re-read the first book in order to get the most out of this follow up as the author gives enough back story for it all to make sense. However, if you've not done, then I do think that you would get more enjoyment if you first read The Ice Cream Girls. 

 📖  All My Lies are True by Dorothy Koomson is out in paperback today 📖 

📖About the Author 📖

Dorothy Koomson is an award-winning, global bestselling author whose novels include the Sunday Times bestsellers The Friend, That Girl from Nowhere, The Ice Cream Girls, The Woman He Loved Before, The Chocolate Run and My Best Friend’s Girl. Her books have been translated into more than 30 languages with sales that exceed 2 million copies in the UK alone. Dorothy’s books are powerful, thought-provoking and compelling ‘emotional thrillers’ where moral dilemmas are central and where the complex emotions of family and friendships are explored. 

Her third book, My Best Friend’s Girl, was selected for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads of 2006, and her novels The Ice Cream Girls and The Rose Petal Beach were both shortlisted for the British Book Awards in 2010 and 2013, respectively. A TV adaptation loosely based on The Ice Cream Girls was first shown on ITV1 in 2013. Her novels have all been Sunday Times Top 10 bestsellers including That Girl from Nowhere, When I Was Invisible, The Friend and Tell Me Your Secret. Dorothy was a 2018 Quick Reads author with The Beach Wedding which was also selected as a World Book Night giveaway title in the same year, with The Ice Cream Girls a 2019 World Book Night title.

Passionate about the importance of reading and literacy, Dorothy is a regular speaker in libraries and at festivals and supports the work of the National Literacy Trust, an independent charity that transforms lives through literacy www.literacytrust.org.uk and Little Green Pig www.littlegreenpig.org.uk, a Brighton and Hove based charity that offers free writing workshops for young people in need. Dorothy lives in Brighton (well, Hove, actually) and the city is an ever-present character in her novels.

Twitter @DorothyKoomson #AllMyLiesAreTrue

@headlinepg

@ed_pr

Amazon UK

Blog Tour ~ Postscript by Cecelia Ahern

I'm so excited to be hosting today's final stop on this lovely blog tour

Harper Collins
19 September 2019

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book
and the opportunity to be part of the blog tour

It's been seven years since Holly Kennedy's husband died – six since she read his final letter, urging Holly to find the courage to forge a new life. She’s proud of all the ways in which she has grown and evolved. But when a group inspired by Gerry's letters, calling themselves the PS, I Love You Club, approaches Holly asking for help, she finds herself drawn back into a world that she worked so hard to leave behind. Reluctantly, Holly begins a relationship with the club, even as their friendship threatens to destroy the peace she believes she has achieved. As each of these people calls upon Holly to help them leave something meaningful behind for their loved ones, Holly will embark on a remarkable journey – one that will challenge her to ask whether embracing the future means betraying the past, and what it means to love someone forever.


What did I think about it..

I have to say that PS I love You was one of my favourite books of the new millennium which was, of course, followed by the film of the book with Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank in the lead roles. Time has passed and it's now time to see what's been happening to Holly Kennedy in the seven years since her husband Gerry died.

Holly is now 37 years old and is tentatively moving forward both in her life and personal relationships but when a group, inspired by Gerry's letters to Holly, and calling themselves the PS I Love You Club get in touch asking for Holly's help in writing letters of their own, it brings back all sorts of memories which Holly thought she had buried forever. What then follows is a compassionate and sensitive look at both the burdens and the blessings of experiencing deep love alongside traumatic loss, and of how the grieving process, never straightforward, comes back to haunt you when you least expect it.

The author writes so beautifully that it's hard not to become emotionally attached to all the new characters who flit into and out of the story. There are lots of memorable moments, some will make you laugh out loud, whilst others will make you cry those proper sobby tears which leave you feeling like an emotional wreck, and yet, throughout it all, is a story of tremendous hope and the abiding strength of love.

From the very start of Postscript it feels like you are returning to a group of old friends whose company you have missed, and from the minute you meet up there are no awkward silences, no blurred edges and no gaps in the conversation. However, inevitably Postscript will be judged alongside PS I Love You in terms of content and mass appeal, so I'm pleased to say that, in my opinion, the writing is everything we have come to expect from this talented author, and whilst there are similarities in the style of writing I do think that Postscript is an altogether more mature story but with the same powerful emotional punch.

PS..It would make a great movie...♡

About the Author

Photo credit: Barry McCall

Cecelia Ahern is one of the biggest selling authors to emerge in the past fifteen years, having sold more than 25 million copies worldwide in over 50 countries. Two of her books have been adapted as major films and she has created several TV series in the US and Germany. Her novel PS I Love You was a New York Times bestseller and huge #1 bestseller in Ireland and the UK. In 2007, it was made into a major film starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler. Since PS I Love You was published in 2004, Cecelia has written 13 bestselling novels, two YA novels and, most recently, a critically acclaimed collection of short stories, ROAR which is now in development by: Nicole Kidman and Per Saari’s Blossom Films, Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories and Theresa Park’s Per Capita Productions, along with Ahern’s own Greenlight Go Productions label. Her novels have resonated with readers everywhere through their thoughtful, unique and inspiring storytelling and have won numerous awards. Cecelia lives in Dublin with her family.

Twitter @Cecelia_Ahern #Postscript

@fictionpubteam

@HarperCollins

Blog Tour ~ Sunwise by Helen Steadman

On Hist Fic Saturday

Jaffareadstoo is thrilled to be part of the blog tour for Sunwise

Impress Books
1 April 2019

My thanks to the author and publisher for my copy of this book and my invitation to be part of the blog tour

"There is a madness come upon England of late..."

When Jane’s lover, Tom, returns from the navy to find her unhappily married to his betrayer, Jane is caught in an impossible situation. Still reeling from the loss of her mother at the hands of the witchfinder John Sharpe, Jane has no choice but to continue her dangerous work as a healer while keeping her young daughter safe. But, as Tom searches for a way for him and Jane to be together, the witchfinder is still at large. Filled with vengeance, John will stop at nothing in his quest to rid England of the scourge of witchcraft. Inspired by true events, Sunwise tells the story of one woman’s struggle for survival in a hostile and superstitious world.

My thoughts..

From the very start of Sunwise there is a real sense of foreboding and those who have read Widdershins will, like me, want to know what happened to Jane Driver and her baby daughter, Rose, in the aftermath of the Newcastle witch trials.

At the start of the story we discover that Jane, although still grieving her beloved mother, is kept busy looking after her young daughter. She continues to help the villagers of Mutton Clog, delivering their babies and carefully preparing the healing potions her mother once taught her to make.

John Sharpe, the notorious witch finder, is still at large and is just as determined to rid the north of England of the witches he is certain still hide amongst the ordinary God fearing folk. However, in his crazed quest to root out evil, he has never forgotten Jane Driver, or of his insane ambition to rid the country of the one woman he considers to be the most dangerous witch in all of England.

Beautifully written, Sunwise is a worthy continuation of the story, and is filled to bursting with all the trademarks of this author’s exceptional writing, however, it must also be said that it is not an easy read. It’s dark and dirty and so insidiously evil that the individual chapters which feature John Sharpe made my, already chilled blood, run even colder. The author’s undeniable skill with words brings the story to life in glorious detail, from the lure of superstition and the absolute torment of lost love, to the very real threat of danger and the undeniable evil which lurks in the shadow of an ancient church. From start to finish there is never a moment when the story doesn’t hold every scrap of your imagination, taking you very firmly by the hand towards an inevitable conclusion, which, it must be said, made me gasp out loud.

I started to read Sunwise on a rather dreary afternoon and didn't look up from the seventeenth century, except to make restorative cups of tea, until the whole of the story had played out, and even after I'd closed the book, vivid images still ran in my mind and I couldn't stop thinking about the  places, the people and the roles they had all played in this remarkable story.

Whilst Sunwise can be read as a standalone story, I do think that it will work so much better if you read Widdershins first.

About the Author

Helen Steadman lives in the foothills of the North Pennines, and she particularly enjoys researching and writing about the history of the north east of England. Following her MA in creative writing at Manchester Met, Helen is now completing a PhD in English at the University of Aberdeen to determine whether a writer can use psycho-physical techniques to create authentic fictional characters.

Website

Twitter @hsteadman1650 #Sunwise #Widdershins #Witch

@ImpressBooks1